Apr 22, 2022 | Alcoholism, drinking
Admitting you need help with addiction is the hardest step of the recovery process. It can take people a long time to realize this. Once you’ve realized that it’s time for a change, educate yourself. You need to fully understand what addiction means and how it affects your life. Decide who in your life might be a good support system and ask for help. After that, investigate treatment options. Figure out what type of support you think will help you the most. Everybody’s journey with recovery is different, so you need to figure out what works best for you.
Admitting You Need Help with Addiction: Next Steps
Hardest Step Accomplished
Admitting you need help with addiction is the hardest step to take. It can take people a very long time to realize that they truly need some help and need to make changes. Often this comes as a result of a “rock bottom” situation. They might finally realize how much their addiction is impacting and hurting their life. Now that you have taken the bold step of admitting you have a problem, it’s time to get the help you need.
Educate Yourself
After admitting you need help with addiction, you’ll want to educate yourself on addiction. This is a disease that can affect people very differently. You’ll want to know what causes it, how it can affect your body and your life, and how to manage it. It’s also a good time to start taking stock of how much your addiction can hurt those around you who love you. If you plan to include them in your journey, you might consider asking them to research the disease of addiction as well.
Ask for Support
You’ll want some support after admitting you need help with addiction. However, not everybody in your life will necessarily be helpful to you. If you have a supportive partner, friends, or family, consider who might be best to help you on your journey. If you have people in your life that cause you more stress, they might not be the best choices. Find somebody that you feel comfortable with that will be understanding and supportive on your journey.
Investigate Treatment
Finally, after admitting you need help for addiction, you’ll want to start investigating various treatment options. There are many different ways to get help for addiction. You can try in-patient and out-patient treatment facilities. You can also look into therapy or medical treatment with a doctor. And of course, there are twelve-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous that can be very helpful. Decide what kind of treatment plan will work best with your goals and your personality.
Admitting you need help for addiction is a difficult conversation to have with yourself. But it’s an amazing and brave first step towards getting the help you need to get clean. It can take people years to realize that they have a problem. It’s important to educate yourself on the disease of addiction so that you can prepare yourself for recovery. Decide who you might like to include on your recovery journey that will be a source of support. And finally, investigate all the various types of treatment options available. You’ll need to weigh each option carefully to decide what will work for you. It will likely depend on your motivation, your history, your personality, and your financial situation. Hopefully, you’ll be able to find a treatment option that works best for you and you can begin your journey towards sobriety.
Apr 15, 2022 | Alcoholism, drinking
Becoming a sponsor for AA might be a great idea if you are committed to the program and want to help new members. Alcoholics Anonymous has been around for decades and has helped thousands of people with their recovery from addiction. A big component of AA is sponsorship. You might consider becoming a sponsor to a new member of AA if you are willing to be vulnerable and share your experience. In addition, you should have a year of sobriety under your belt and have plenty of time to devote to sponsorship. And finally, you’ll need to know the program very well in order to help others learn the ropes. Hopefully, you’ll find the right fit and be able to help a new member of the program with their recovery.
Becoming a Sponsor for AA: What to Know
Must Be Willing to Be Vulnerable
Becoming a sponsor for AA means that you’ll need to open up and share your journey with another person. You’ll need to be willing to be vulnerable about your experience with recovery. Sharing your personal journey is a great way to help somebody through their hardest moments. However, you need to be secure in your recovery because it can be painful for you as well.
One Year of Sobriety
You should not think of becoming a sponsor for AA until you’ve spent plenty of time in the program. For example, most consider one year to be the minimum time of sobriety before committing to sponsorship. However, longer is even better as you’ll be even more secure in your recovery.
Time Commitment
Becoming a sponsor for AA is a big-time commitment. You’ll need to make sure that your schedule allows for you to meet with or at least speak on the phone with your sponsee as much as needed. Before committing to a new member as their sponsor, make sure that your schedules line up. Try to make sure that you’ll have some times when you are both available to meet.
Knowing the Program
Finally, becoming a sponsor for AA means that you’ll be sharing the twelve steps with new members. Therefore, you’ll need to know the program back to front. You also need to be a supporter of the program and believe in the power of the twelve steps. Your sponsee might have questions and concerns that you’ll need to address.
Becoming a sponsor for AA is a big step. Make sure that you fully are prepared for everything it entails before you commit. For example, you’ll need to be prepared to share your experience, even the hard parts, with a new member. This can be painful and trying to your sobriety. It’s best if you have at least a year of sobriety under your belt. In addition, you need to make sure that you have the time available to help a new member. And finally, make sure that you truly believe in the program and know the twelve steps inside and out as you’ll likely need to guide a new member through them. Hopefully, you’ll be able to find a great sponsee that will benefit greatly from your experience.
Mar 25, 2022 | Alcoholism, drinking
While many people know the physical benefits of getting sober, there are a lot of hidden benefits of living a sober life as well. You might not have thought of these when considering giving up alcohol or drugs. You might just be focused on the physical benefits like protecting your heart health, liver, kidney, and other organs. But there are many hidden benefits that you will likely experience if you begin living a clean and sober life. For example, you might find that you have a lot more self-confidence. You’ll likely be able to connect to people on a deeper level. You might start sleeping better too. And finally, you’ll probably save a good bit of money as alcohol and drugs are expensive habits. Hopefully, these plus the many physical and emotional benefits are enough reason to help you get the support you need for recovery.
Hidden Benefits of Living a Sober Life: Surprising Improcements
Self-Confidence
One of the hidden benefits of living a sober life is that you will probably gain more self-confidence. A serious addiction is often a source of shame and embarrassment. Even if you hide it from the world, it probably is still affecting your self-confidence. By overcoming addiction, you’ll give yourself something amazing to be proud of. Take pride in your hard work! You’ll probably feel more confident in yourself knowing that you are making the best decision for your health.
Deeper Relationships
Another of the surprising hidden benefits of living a sober life is that you will establish deeper relationships. It’s difficult to connect fully with another person when you have an addiction. No matter how much you try to ignore it, your cravings will likely always be a distraction. Getting free from your addiction will help you focus on your connections with people and can allow you to create more meaningful relationships.
Better Sleep
Better sleep is another of the hidden benefits of living a sober life. Drugs, and especially alcohol can hinder your sleep. They cause you to not sleep as deeply. Many people have trouble falling asleep and also wake up more often throughout the night. However, getting clean should improve the quality of your sleep.
Better for Your Wallet
Finally, saving money is one of the most exciting hidden benefits of living a sober life. Addiction is expensive. Drugs and alcohol all cost money, and depending on how strong your addiction is, they can quickly deplete your funds. By getting clean, you should be able to save quite a bit of money. You can use this as motivation to help you stay sober when you feel tempted. Just imagine the vacation you can afford to go on since you are saving money.
Addiction has many negative effects on the human body. Getting clean can improve your overall health, your relationships, and your happiness. But there are some hidden benefits of living a sober life that you should look forward to as well. For example, you probably will gain some self-confidence. Getting clean is something to be proud of. In addition, you might be able to connect with people on a deeper level. Your sleep should improve, as well as your savings account. Hopefully, all of these things can help motivate you to get your addiction under control. Reach out to a supportive friend or family member or find resources to help you begin living a sober life.
Feb 4, 2022 | drinking, Drinking Smart
Knowing your limit is so important if you are out drinking with friends. Knowing when to stop will help you avoid the negative consequences of heavy drinking. Some drinkers can know when they’ve hit their limit just by the sensation of their body. Others use alcohol charts to help them decide when enough is enough. You can also perform field sobriety tests on yourself, or have a friend do them with you. And finally, you can purchase a breathalyzer as well to measure the alcohol content in your system. Drinking responsibly will help you avoid the dangers of over-indulging like health issues, hangovers, or driving accidents.
Knowing Your Limit: How to Know When to Quit Drinking
Feeling Drunk
Knowing your limit comes easier the longer you’ve been drinking. If you are an infrequent drinker, or if you’ve recently started drinking, it can be hard to know when to stop. Many people think that stopping when you’re “buzzed” is a good idea. This is when you reach the state of intoxication where you feel relaxed, giggly, happy, or your muscles feel a little looser. The room shouldn’t be spinning and you should not be sick to your stomach. Stopping when you are buzzed will usually prevent you from having an extreme hangover. However, you should never drive while buzzed.
Alcohol Chart
Knowing your limit can be hard, so some people rely on alcohol charts to help them know when enough is enough. An alcohol chart can show you how many drinks per hour somebody of your weight should stick to. However, there can be a lot of room for error with these. A lot depends on your body type, your drinking history, your metabolism, and how much food you’ve had in the day.
Field Sobriety Tests
Trying to do some field sobriety tests can help you with knowing your limit as well. These are the types of tests that cops use when they pull people over who they suspect of drinking and driving. You can try balancing on one leg or walking a straight line forwards and backward. Have a friend perform the tests on you to tell you how you’ve done. If you are having trouble completing the tasks, it’s probably time to stop drinking.
BAC
Finally, a breathalyzer can help you with knowing your limit too. A breathalyzer tests the BAC or blood-alcohol content in your breath when you breathe into a tube. However, like the drinking charts, there is a lot of room for error. There are many different qualities of at-home breathalyzers, so you can never know how reliable yours is. If you are planning to use one to see if you are sober enough to drive, you can blow a different number for a cop and get a DUI. Theirs are much more sensitive and might register more clearly. If you want to drive, it’s best not to drink at all.
Knowing your limit with drinking is important to help you have a good time without the aftermath of hangovers, health issues, or DWI’s. Stopping when you feel buzzed is usually a good rule of thumb when drinking. However, it’s never safe to drive in this condition. If you want to use a chart, it can be a helpful baseline to show you a proper amount to drink. Field sobriety tests can help you determine if it’s time to stop as well. And finally, a breathalyzer should give you an idea of how intoxicated you are, but should never be depended on for driving. Hopefully, you’ll be able to find your drinking limit and enjoy a night out with friends without things getting out of hand.
Oct 8, 2021 | Alcoholism, drinking
If you are wondering if your partner is abusing alcohol, you can look for signs and clues from how they live their lives and interact with others. If you do think they are drinking too much, hopefully, you can get them the help that they need. One clue that they might be an alcoholic is if their social life revolves around alcohol. Another sign to look for is if they are cranky and irritable when they don’t drink. Another warning sign is people who don’t show outward signs of drunkenness even when they’ve had enough drinks to be intoxicated. And finally, if drinking is causing problems in their life it’s a clear red flag. All of these can be clues that your partner is drinking too heavily. Hopefully, you can provide a support system for them to get the help they need to get sober.
Signs That Your Partner is Abusing Alcohol: Signs and Symptoms of a Problem
Their Social Life Revolves Around Alcohol
One indication that your partner is abusing alcohol is that their entire social life revolves around it. If every date involves drinking and your weekends are filled with barhopping, it could be a red flag. Additionally, if they wind up drinking even when they don’t plan on it, it can be worrisome. For example, if your partner says they won’t drink but then give in and order something when they see others drinking, it could mean that they have a problem with resisting alcohol. While it’s fine to meet friends for drinks or order a fancy wine while out to dinner, if you’re entire social calendar revolves around alcohol, it’s a problem.
They Are Irritable When They Don’t Drink
Another sign that your partner is abusing alcohol is if they are irritable when they don’t drink. Excessive drinking can change the way your brain functions. It makes it so that your brain can no longer function normally without the alcohol. When you take that alcohol away, it can cause crankiness and irritability as your brain and body adjust to the absence of alcohol. This is one minor symptom of withdrawal. If your partner suffers from this or any other withdrawal symptom, it’s an indication that their body is too dependent on alcohol.
They Hold Their Liquor Too Well
It might be a sign that your partner is abusing alcohol if they hold their liquor too well. People who don’t show outward signs of drunkenness when they are intoxicated have a higher tolerance. But you can only get a higher tolerance for alcohol by drinking larger and larger quantities over time. While some people take pride in how much alcohol they’re able to handle, it can be a warning sign of an alcohol dependency problem.
Drinking Is Causing Problems in Their Life
One final sign that your partner is abusing alcohol is if drinking is causing problems in their life. Excessive drinking can lead to issues with family members and friends, partners, and even work. If they’re having trouble keeping up with personal relationships it can be a warning sign. Additionally, if they’re having issues with coming in late or hungover to work, it’s a definite red flag. Their family might be aware of any past drinking issues and be quick to get concerned if they’re drinking again. Take your cues from family members and long-time friends of your partner. If they seem concerned about the drinking, you should start analyzing your partner’s behavior for signs of alcoholism.
Unfortunately, many people are adept at hiding intense alcohol problems. However, there are signs that your partner is abusing alcohol if you look closely. Recognize if their entire social calendar revolves around drinking. Also, take note if they seem irritable when they abstain from alcohol because this might mean they are dependent. Furthermore, if they hold their liquor well and it’s difficult to tell when they are drunk even after many drinks, it can be a sign that they are drinking too much. And finally, if they’re having issues with family, friends, or their work it’s time to take a closer look. Hopefully, if you see these signs you can get your partner the help they need to get sober.
Jul 30, 2021 | Accident prevention, drinking
Protecting your drink from Rohypnol, or roofies, when out with friends can save you from a dangerous situation. Rohypnol and other drugs are known as “date rape” drugs because they can be put into drinks without the drinker being aware. They often act like muscle relaxers and make the victim drowsy or uninhibited. It’s important to know how to protect your drink from being tampered with. The way that you hold your drink can be a deterrent to would-be attackers. In addition, knowing what to drink and the safest way to drink can help protect you. And finally, really tasting your drink and being cautious if anything seems off is also important. Hopefully, you’ll never need to worry about a roofie, but it’s good to be aware of the best ways to protect yourself and your friends.
Protecting Your Drink from Rohypnol or Roofies
Holding Your Drink
Protecting your drink from Rohypnol starts with one basic rule. Always keep a hand on your drink. You never want to leave your drink out in the open unattended where anybody could come along and tamper with it. It’s also a good idea to cover it up by holding it with your hand across the top. If you lose sight of your drink, it’s best to simply order a new one so that you know it’s safe to drink.
What to Drink
Protecting your drink from Rohypnol is much easier if you watch the bartender pour it yourself. Never drink from large punch bowls or open containers at a party. It’s also best not to accept drinks from other people. Even though it is a kind gesture, accepting a drink from somebody you don’t know well can be very dangerous. If somebody offers to buy you a drink, accompany them to the bar so you can watch it being poured.
How to Drink
It’s also best to practice safe drinking practices for protecting your drink from Rohypnol. Sip your drink slowly instead of chugging it. If you drink it slowly, you’ll have more of a chance to notice if something feels off about how it’s affecting you. Sharing drinks is also not a good idea. Not only is it dangerous in terms of potential roofies, but it also spreads germs.
Tasting Your Drink
Finally, one last way of protecting your drink from Rohypnol is to pay close attention to how it looks and tastes. Roofies are odorless and tasteless, but other drugs might not be. If you notice any sort of unusual flavor in your drink, stop drinking it immediately and order a fresh one. In addition, if your drink looks cloudy, it could be a warning sign that there is something in it that shouldn’t be. And finally, if the drink seems to be affecting you in a way that you’re not expecting, stop drinking it immediately. It might have been tampered with.
Protecting your drink from Rohypnol and other “date rape” drugs is an important thing to know. It’s especially important for inexperienced drinkers in large party settings like college dorms. However, somebody can tamper with your drink anywhere. Never leave your drink unattended and try to keep a hand over the top at all times. Never accept drinks from strangers or drink from communal punch bowls. Sip slowly and don’t share drinks with anybody. And finally, if something looks, smells, tastes, or feels off about your beverage, stop drinking it immediately. Paying for an extra drink is well worth it to know that you are being safe and protecting yourself from a potential roofie or other drugs.
